We're having a movie competition! And never one to miss out on a good pun, we’ve decided of course, to call it MOOvie Mania. It should be lots of fun - and more to the point, we’ve got some great prizes and some wonderful judges. So… Lets get down to business.
What’s the competition about?
We’ve been spotting great little movies featuring MOO products for a while now. Un-boxings, tutorials - like this, and this, funky animations, and of course, the infamous Hugo, the Cat of 1000 Faces.
So, we thought, why not make it more official? Have a competition, let these budding film makers enter – and ask everyone else if they’d like to enter too. We’ll provide some great prizes and hopefully everyone will have some fun along the way.
How do you enter?
We thought we’d keep it simple. We’d like you to:
1.
Create a short (:15 seconds to 15 minutes) video which fits either in one of the two following categories:
Story Time:
Any MOOvie that amuses, entertains, delights or even scares. The only rule is that there must be one reference to MOO (e.g. an exchange of a card, a sticker on a laptop, a starring role, anything as long as MOO has at least a cameo)
Helping Others: Tutorials & How Tos.
These MOOvies should help others to use MOO.COM or make something with our products. It could even explain how to create something with our api.
2.
Post your MOOvie to one or all of the following MOOvie sites, before July 31, 2009. We’ve chosen three different sites in order that you can choose the one that suits you best.
Flickr.com
YouTube.com
www.dailymotion.com
3.
Include the following tags when you upload to the site:
MOOvie Mania
Business Cards
4.
Let us know about your MOOvie by posting a link here in the comments of this post - or any others about the MOOvie competition.
And that’s it, you’re done!
What can you win?
We’ll be giving 2 GRAND prizes (one for each category) and smaller prizes too for the 2nd and 3rd on the podium.
The grand prize winners will be awarded with an exceptional $1000 prize value:
• 1 Flip Mino HD (donated by Firebox)
• 1 Corel Video Studio Pro software (donated by Corel)
• £450 (GBP - or the equivalent in $USD)
• MOO Prize pack: 200 Business Cards, 1 Business Card Holder in leather, 1 pack of MiniCards, 1 Cobu MiniCard holder, 1 pack of 20 Postcards, ($157.95)
2nd prize:
• 1 Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo Ultimate (donated by Corel)
• 200 Business Cards
• 1 Flickr Pro
3rd prize:
• 200 Business Cards
• 1 Flickr Pro
• 50 iStockphoto Credits
Who are the judges?
We have 5 esteemed independent judges who will make the final selection of winners. The judges are:
Heather Champ, www.Flickr.com
Joel Veitch, www.Rathergood.com
Jim Goertz, www.iStockphoto.com
Christian Robinson, www.firebox.co.uk
James Phillips, Corel
Is there anything else to know?
Not really - just have some fun making a MOOvie about MOO, upload it and tell us where it is, before July 31, 2009! You should probably read our terms and conditions too - just so you know what's what.
Any questions? Ask us here on the blog, we'd be happy to help!
There's more to packaging than meets the eye. A its most basic level it simply has to protect its precious cargo, but with a bit of thought – and not much expense - your packaging can work much harder for both you, and your customers.
Without much work your packaging could:
• make a statement about you and the way you work
• have a second life – saved and re-used as storage
• promote your store and your work - which could mean more sales
and best of all
• create a sense of excitement and anticipation on arrival. (Which could also mean more sales!)
Who doesn't want their customer to be overjoyed at receiving something they've made? You've put a lot of work into the item, people should be excited about receiving it! And the more excited they are, the more they love it - and the more they love it, the more they'll talk about it and show it to their friends. And we all know recommendations from a friend are best kind of advertising for your store.
We're very interested in crafting and making things in the MOO office. Some of the team make things of their own, others are avid consumers of sites like Etsy. And Of course we also love packaging - we take a lot of care with our own!
What prompted this article was the recent arrival of two very different packages in the post.
Once out of the padded envelope, one item was wrapped in a clear plastic sandwich bag, with a printout of where it had come from and a receipt. We opened the plastic, threw it away, looked at the slip of paper quickly, and couldn't think of a reason to save that, so we threw that away too. Was the item nice? It was lovely! Were we excited to open the package? Not really - there was no anticipation, no feeling of having bought something really special. It wasn't remarkable, and now we've thrown away the slip of paper, we'll need to search online to find the store again.
The other package came in a little brown paper box, carefully wrapped with a strip of floral paper and twine. Opening the box was like opening a gift! Inside was bright paper, gently protecting the item. It felt precious, and special. It also came with two colourful business cards (we're not biased, they actually weren't MOO MiniCards or Business Cards!) and the owner of the shop had stamped her url on the outside of the box. There was also a little note to say thanks for buying from the shop.
What did we do with this packaging? We saved it all! Every time we open it to take out the item, we love it all over again. And more to the point, we have the url of the shop on hand all of the time. When we want to get something else, we know where to go. We kept the business cards too, because they were so pretty we didn't really want to throw them away. Luckily, as we have two, we can pass one on to a friend.
Of course custom ordering packaging can be expensive, but that doesn't mean it's difficult, or expensive to create something wonderful. We thought it might be handy to do a round up of some of the great ideas we've seen and show how some people are using MOO, to promote their business - and hopefully get more sales.
This article is part one, and concentrates on three main things, boxes, paper and plastic.
Boxes
We know boxes can be expensive - and they're not appropriate for every item. But, if you're a jeweller, sending something delicate, they're the perfect way to add some protection. Not only that, they're ideal for the customer to save and re-use. If the item is ultimately a gift, a nice box will make both the giver and the receiver feel really special.
These smart black boxes look like gifts from an expensive store. c-urchin has tied each one with coloured ribbon to match the photo on the MiniCard – and each MiniCard has a photo of her work. Such pretty cards, they're sure to be kept or passed on, meaning the url and name of her store is easily found - perfect for repeat orders.
But perhaps your work has more romantic feel? Less city chic, and more country cottage? These boxes by Nest Decorating again look like a wonderful gift, but create very different emotions to the boxes above:
Using thin ribbon and simple twine, she's threaded her MiniCards to the box, and added a simple bead. Again, sure to be kept, these MiniCards promote her store and will surprise and delight her customers. If this is your style, do check out Tamar's other uses of MOO they're a real treat!
These are the main things to think about when using a box
• they protect your items
• they'll probably be kept by the recipient
• they have a 'gift'-like feeling - perhaps you could offer it as a paid-for extra?
• they can be easily personalised, or branded with a sticker or stamp
• they can be easily accessorised with ribbon
• they can be more cheaply accessorised with twine, or wool, sometimes the box itself is special enough.
Tissue
Tissue is much cheaper than a box, and a lot easier find - and store! It still gives extra protection to the item inside, but at the same time, creates a sense of eager anticipation. That noise as you rustle the paper! Should you tear it right off or open it gently? Either way, you're already excited as soon as you've opened the envelope.
This item, is again packaged for the Nest Decorating store. Using just simple tissue paper she's added a special touch with a bright ribbon - and again, a great use of a MiniCard.
And this little package is actually for a swap, rather than a sale, but it's so nice, we thought you should see it anyway! Wrapped by Laura Fallulah, it includes a little charm, and several sheets of MOO Stickers. These stickers are actually MOO designs – but would work equally well with photos of your own products (great way to promote your range), or your logo, or url.
stickers are currently only available from MOO's UK store - but we do ship them world wide.
These are the main things to think about when using tissue or paper
• cheap
• easy to store (packages flat!)
• easily available in many colours, so you can find a colour to suit your style
• available in co-ordinating colours so you can wrap many items in co-ordinating style
• simply branded or personalised with a rubber stamp
• very easy (and cheap!) to add nice touches - floral ribbons, stickers, platted yarn or twine
Plastic
Plastic doesn't have to be mean to the environment. It's possible to find recycleable and biodegradeable bags out there, and they're quite cost effective and efficient. When packaged and used well, clear plastic can create a real sense of anticipation - you can see the item - all you want to do is get at it right now!
These packages by Yarnissima are really something. We've mentioned them here before, but they always strike us as a such a thoughtful and creative idea. Her shop sells wonderful yarn and patterns, and the packaging looks like a fantastic treat!
Crazycatladymel is another one that uses plastic to great advantage - look at these packages ready for swapping! Colourful bags of treats, you can see everything inside, but the candy striped twine and the MiniCard add the perfect finishing touches. You know who ever receives these will spend a few minutes looking at the package before they crack it open it for the goodies inside.
These are the main things to think about when using plastic
• cheap
• easy to store (again, packs flat!)
• works well with bright, colourful items inside
• works well for multiple items
• waterproof (more so than paper) so good for items travelling long distances
• slightly more 'ordinary' so the finishing touches really make it - colourful twine, ribbons and MiniCards.
We hope you've enjoyed these examples - in writing this we've realised there are lots more, different things you can do - all easy, and cost effective. We'll leave it here for now, but we'll be sharing even more ideas in the coming months.
Are you a seller? Or have you ever received a wonderfully packaged item from a seller?
We'd love to share more examples from the MOO community, so feel free to add your thoughts and ideas in the comments. Perhaps you've had a great ideas for your own store, or you've received a great package from an online seller? How did the package make you feel? Please do let us know what you think!
There's something fantastically James Bond about these Business Cards. In a world where we're all dressed head to toe in black, jetsetting around on covert missions, we'd leave nothing but a card like this behind for our frustrated enemies to find.
Taking the card carefully out of its case with gloved hands, we'd place it on the table and smile secretively to ourselves as we abseiled out of the window, landing deftly on a motor bike below. We'd head straight for the nearest impractical stairway we could find, and drive down it shouting triumphant phrases in multiple languages.
Our card of course, would contain no traditional names and numbers, just a beautiful, graphical representation of our unique DNA. You want to find me? Match up my DNA first!
Well. Something like that anyway.
In real life, a company called DNA 11 made these cards - and they're a lot more practical, and a lot easier to produce than you may think. They can already create unique artworks from your own DNA, so they decided to make themselves some Business Cards with the same images.
Each image is created from a real-life swab (you get your own kit when you sign up!) The DNA is then extracted from the swab and run onto gel. A raw image is captured, which is then digitally enhanced and coloured.
The images they used for their own cards have been coloured in different ways - it makes a great looking pack and is the perfect way to showcase their business. They've also made some with fingerprints too.
If you like the idea of coloured packs, but not the idea of handing out your biological signature, we've recently added lots of new packs to the ColourLovers portfolio! You can mix and match designs, or buy Ready Made packs, with different colour themes.
We're rather attached to this pack, Dreaming in Green, which looks great when fanned out as you offer them to a new contact:
And this City Slicker pack is good for a more 'traditional' businessy approach. Read what ColourLovers have to say about the new packs and palettes, on their own blog.
It probably wont come as a huge shock when I say we're big foodies at MOO. At the most basic level, we like a nice pie, and if it's at all possible, we love following that with a lovely slice of cake. We've even been known to have 'specialist' food days, like the first day of localisation, in 2008, or the meatfest of Wednesday 13th May 2009, which was in celebration of our recent USA launch.
Unsurprisingly, our eyes are finely food-tuned now - we can spot food related MiniCards at 50 paces. So when we saw lots of great cards being made by a company called Foodbuzz, you can imagine we got rather excited. These are an example, created for food blogger, Deep Dish Dreams
And here's another, by Malaysia Best
In the interests of general noseyness research, we got in touch with Foodbuzz to say hello and see if we could give them a hand. As they're such nice folks, we thought it might be good to introduce them to you too, and explain what these cards are all about.
Hello, for the uninitiated, can explain a bit more about Foodbuzz? What's it all about?
Hello! Foodbuzz is the largest online community for food lovers! We’re the number one social networking site for foodies and the third-largest food property on the web. Users can share recipes, review restaurants, post photos, and make friends with other foodies all over the world.
So, what does Foodbuzz use MOO products for?
The backbone of our community is made up of more than 2,000 Featured Publishers, a group of fantastic and passionate food bloggers who have partnered with Foodbuzz. We show our Featured Publishers a lot of love, and to help them get the word out about their blogs, we give each new Featured Publisher a free pack of mini-MOO cards to share with other foodies they might meet!
That's a lot of cards - how do you go about making them all?
We worked with MOO to create an API accessible on our site only to Featured Publishers. It automatically fills in the publisher's information (their name, blog title, and URL). We also hand-selected some wonderful food images for the backs of the cards. Our publishers love them!
Excellent! What's a typical reaction when someone receives their cards from you? And what do they do with them?
Publishers are really excited to get the cards — as bloggers, one of the first things they do is blog about them! I think they appreciate that we’re helping them promote their blog, and when they attend foodie events or meet other food lovers, they have a beautiful set of calling cards ready to go!
Any other good tips for how someone might use MOO products if they're a total foodie?
We think MOO cards would make great recipe cards! Don’t just give someone your contact info, give them one of your favorite recipes too!
-----
We love seeing new communities using our cards. The excitement (and love) Foodbuzz have generated with this simple but useful gift is a real joy to read. If you're doing something similar in your own community, get in touch! We'd love to feature you too.
"Finals!" "Portfolio reviews!" "End of Year Shows!" "Jobs!" "The World!"
If this is a snippet of what is going through your mind at the moment, we can sympathise. It wasn’t that long ago that we were busy, eager, just a little nervous, and heading for graduation ourselves.
For design, art and photography students, now is the time to pull a whole year’s work into one exhibition; impressing tutors, fellow students - and more importantly, VIPs that might have jobs (and a pay cheque) up their sleeves.
So how do you make the most out of your end of year show? What materials do you need to help make a good impression?
One of the first places you could start is with an invitation. Maybe you're having a group invitation, designed in tandem with your course - or perhaps you can work on a design of your own. If you have a list of people you know you'd like to invite, Postcards can be great for this. Available in small packs of 20, or larger packs of 60, you can put a different image on every one. Want a packaging company to see your show? Send them a shot of your packaging work. Want design agencies to come too? Send each agency a different example of your work that you know will appeal to them. One of the best things about using MOO is the chance of printing multiple images in one order, at a reasonable price.
These Postcards are a great example - they're invitations to a solo exhibition, created by Ladydesign. Each has a striking image and really makes the most of her strong portfolio.
Once people are at your show, of course they're going to love your work! But don't forget, they'll be seeing a lot of different artists, so giving them something smart to remember you by is the next thing to think about. Business Cards and MiniCards are perfect for this - they can feature your work on one side, and your details on the other. New contacts can take away their favourite piece of work in your folio, and have a good way of contacting you in the future.
We've shown this shot by the awesome PhotoCharlie before, but it's a colourful set up, easy to create, featuring MiniCards, and Postcards. As you can see, you can show a wide range of work, and each item is easy to unclip and take away:
Simple washing line and pegs are also eye-catching, interactive and effective - as you can see here, in this great shot by °Giulietta°
Or, when space is tight or more formal, a simple card dispenser on the wall is a handy addition, as demonstrated by rachelmoon:
When money is tight too, make use of the FREE Business Card holder you get when you buy MOO Business Cards! Our lovely ex-MOO-project manager, Iain, took this shot, when he spotted a case being used as part of a small art installation:
Another great idea we've seen to get people to interact with your work and take it away are these bookmarks, by fashion fucsia. Featuring beautiful illustrations and brightly coloured ribbon, they're quick to make and *really* appealing!
These are wonderful too - by redmeg8, they're different examples of work, joined in one corner. A take-away-folio!
Once the show is over, don't forget to keep a pack of Business Cards or MiniCards with you at all times. You never know when a chance to show and share your work might strike - as this great post (also full of tips!) demonstrates. As David Moore found out, with different examples of your work on every card, it really is like a mini portfolio for your pocket.
However you do it - GOOD LUCK!
You might also like to know, some of the very best art schools in the world (University of Arts London and Pratt, NY) have joined up with MOO to offer their students some extra good deals on these products, as they prepare for their shows.
If you attend an art or design school, or teach at, or are affiliated with one, and want to put together a special offer for all the students in the school, why not get in touch? We’d love to help.
And in the meantime, why not think about attending an end of year show near you? They’re a great way to network, find new talent, meet other creative types and possibly blag a little drink or canapé!
Here are a few that we've spotted;
London, UK: University of Arts London.
May 18th - July 10th
NY, USA: Pratt Institute
May 12th - May 15th
NY, USA: Parsons School for Design
May 15th - May 23rd
California, USA: Caliornia College of the Arts
Throughout May
Rhode Island, USA: Rhode Island School of Design
May 30th
Hello folks
Four score and seven years ago (2004, actually), when MOO was just a twinkle in my eye, I dreamed that one day this little business would grow up, and spawn offices in other countries around the world. This week that dream came true.
On the 1st May 2009, MOO USA was born (10lbs and 3oz, a little on the heavy side) in Providence, Rhode Island, and began fulfilling orders for all our American customers.
It has been a long labour. For the last 4 months we've been busy setting up the US operation: taking a space, moving stock from London, putting Ikea furniture together, and hiring an All American MOO Crew. Our VP of Operations, Brian, moved back to the USA to lead the project (we originally imported him to London from California three years ago), and he took Joy, our much-loved HR manager with him. Tears were shed, cake was eaten, beers were drunk.
MOO's London-based Development team have also been hard at work, splitting the website in two, mirroring our distributed operations and giving the US its very own site. And for good reason too.
With MOO now on the ground in the USA our American customers (nearly half our entire customer base) will enjoy a significantly better service from us:
• Shipping times should be halved
• Shipping will be cheaper, and all items will ship together
• New shipping products will also be available, like tracking and a shiny new express service
• There will be special US-only promotions (don't worry Rest of World, you'll get special promos too!)
• And soon Customer Service will be done on US time, by 100% real Americans
In the short-term, however, Stickers, NoteCards and Frames will only be available from our European Store, which is still accessible to US customers.
So, we're all a little bit excited about this here at MOO: a significantly better service for our customers, a new office and shiny new MOO Crew pen pals for us.
It's all pretty straight forward, but there's one question we keep getting asked...
'Why Providence?'
Well, Providence was actually chosen for a number of reasons. Primarily because of its proximity to London, office hours overlap and lower costs (vs New York or Boston). But there were plenty of other reasons to be excited about this small, but beautiful town. Brian knew Providence well, and when we committed to the location he reassured us that it had a great pedigree.
Here are some of the great things to have come out of Providence -
• Shepard Fairey, created the ubiquitous Andre the Giant campaign, whilst attending the world-renowned Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), in Providence. Haven't heard of him? You've almost certainly seen his iconic designs which can be seen around the world.
• The band, Talking Heads, met in Providence, also whilst at RISD. Origianlly called 'The Artistics', Byrne, Frantz and Weymouth changed their name to 'Talking Heads' when they moved to New York after graduation.
• The awesome cartoon, Family Guy, is based in Rhode Island. The fictional town of Quahog is supposed to be in a suburb of Providence. Family Guy creator, Seth MacFarlane, studied animation at RISD.
• The Farelley Brothers, producers of Dumb and Dumber and There's Something About Mary, are from Cumberland, Rhode Island. Many of their movies feature Rhode Island and New England.
• The toy company Hassenfeld Brothers was founded in 1923 and still has its headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The company shortened its name to Hasbro in 1968, and invented, amongst others, the amazing game of Monopoly.
And now MOO is there too. We're really excited about coming to Providence, and the United States. It's a big step for us, moving to a new town, a new country, but everyone there has made us feel very welcome, we even got to meet the Mayor.
So, American friends, we hope you like your new, improved US service. And, as is customary, we'll be having a big MOO party to celebrate our arrival in the Ocean State. So look out for more details in the Blog around the beginning of June. We hope to see you *all* then.
Until then,
Richard
MOO CEO & Founder
